Students
MUS 207 – Guitar Principles
2014 – S2 Day
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Denis Crowdy
Contact via denis.crowdy@mq.edu.au
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
3
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
15cp
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit introduces students to basic approaches to guitar playing in particular styles. No previous experience in guitar playing is necessary (internal streams will be run appropriate to individual skill levels). The unit combines study tutorials and practical workshops.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding and application of guitar technique through playing exercises and songs/pieces
- Develop an approach to planning and reflecting on personal instrumental development through preparation, implementation and documentation of an individual practice routine
- Incorporate historical, social and technical knowledge of the guitar in a personal approach to learning the instrument
- Participate, evaluate and gain a practical understanding of the role of the contemporary guitarist as soloist and in an ensemble
- Develop personal playing skills through selection, rehearsal and performance of appropriate repertoire.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 40% | Week 7, 12 /13 |
| Quizzes | 40% | Various - throughout semester |
| Planning and reflection | 20% | Week 4 and 13 |
Performance
Due: Week 7, 12 /13
Weighting: 40%
Students will perform in an ensemble and solo context to test essential performance and instrumental skills.
Ensemble performance will be based on participation in tutorials, rehearsals and an ability to perform with other guitarists during the tutorials and a final performance with a peer audience.
Solo Performance is assessed through performance of technical exercises and a piece/song of individual choice. This will be assessed on the application of appropriate guitar technique, together with interpretive elements (including dynamics, phrasing, rhythm and tone) and stylistic integrity. A simple tablature reading exercise will also form part of this assessment.
Full details of this component, with a breakdown of the weighting of each component can be found on the unit's iLearn site.
Marking Criteria:
A (35%). Application of appropriate guitar technique
B (35%). Evaluation of musicianship, musicality, and understanding of the role of the contemporary guitarist as soloist and in an ensemble
C (30%). Quality and application of selection, rehearsal and performance of a piece/song for solo performance
Late penalty: Students will organise a time for their performances with their tutor, and are expected to be present in advance of that time (10 minutes at the very least). Students who fail to turn up at all will receive 0 for the particular aspect under assessment. Students who are late to their performance without reason for application for special approval will not receive extra time, and will receive 0 for the assessment if the assessment schedule does not allow their performance to take place without disadvantaging other students by affecting their starting time. In summary, be there well in advance. If you are a couple of minutes late, your performance will almost certainly be able to go ahead. Much later than that and you could receive 0.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding and application of guitar technique through playing exercises and songs/pieces
- Incorporate historical, social and technical knowledge of the guitar in a personal approach to learning the instrument
- Participate, evaluate and gain a practical understanding of the role of the contemporary guitarist as soloist and in an ensemble
- Develop personal playing skills through selection, rehearsal and performance of appropriate repertoire.
Quizzes
Due: Various - throughout semester
Weighting: 40%
A series of quizzes will be presented throughout the semester (generally fortnightly) testing knowledge of essential theory and engagement with fundamental guitar related knowledge presented in the lecture material.
Marking criteria: Multiple choice, correct or incorrect.
Late penalty: Quizzes will be available for a week after the due date, and students will incur a penalty of 5% per day. After that week after the due date, the quiz is made unavailable and a mark of 0 is recorded.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding and application of guitar technique through playing exercises and songs/pieces
- Incorporate historical, social and technical knowledge of the guitar in a personal approach to learning the instrument
Planning and reflection
Due: Week 4 and 13
Weighting: 20%
Students are to analyse and reflect on their current guitar playing abilities, prepare a set of goals and an appropriate practice plan, then log their progress over the period of the course. students are to demonstrate engaged and analytical listening to appropriate repertoire and are to show evidence of this in the document.
Full details of this assignment, including weightings are to be found on the unit's iLearn site
Marking Criteria:
A (25%) Evaluation of approach to planning personal instrumental development through preparation, implementation and documentation of an individual practice routine
B. (50%) Incorporation of historical, social and technical knowledge of the guitar in a personal approach to learning the instrument.
C. (25%) Application of appropriate technique, health and planning strategies in practice and performance
Late penalty: Students will incur a penalty of 5% per day to a maximum of 7 days, after which a mark of 0 is recorded.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Develop an approach to planning and reflecting on personal instrumental development through preparation, implementation and documentation of an individual practice routine
- Incorporate historical, social and technical knowledge of the guitar in a personal approach to learning the instrument
- Participate, evaluate and gain a practical understanding of the role of the contemporary guitarist as soloist and in an ensemble
Delivery and Resources
Essential readings:
Benadon, F. & Gioia, T., 2009. How Hooker found his boogie: a rhythmic analysis of a classic groove. Popular Music, 28(01), pp.19–32.
Clarke, P., 1983. “A magic science”: rock music as a recording art. Popular Music, 3, pp.195–213.
Fitzgerald, J. 1999. Popular Music Theory & Musicianship. Hazelmount Publishing.
McSwain, R., 1995. The power of the electric guitar. Popular Music and Society, 19(4), pp.21–40.
Wells, J.D., 1983. Me and the Devil Blues: A study of Robert Johnson and the music of the rolling stones. Popular Music and Society, 9(3), pp.17–24.
Guitar, Wikibooks, http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Guitar
Music Theory, Wikibooks, http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Music_Theora
Other resources:
Various other resources are provided throughout the semester and students should explore the iLearn site for more detail
Unit Schedule
Details on unit's iLearn site
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Additional information
MMCCS Session Re-mark Application http://www.mq.edu.au/pubstatic/public/download/?id=167914
Information is correct at the time of publication
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Graduate Capabilities
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- Develop an approach to planning and reflecting on personal instrumental development through preparation, implementation and documentation of an individual practice routine
Assessment task
- Planning and reflection
Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding and application of guitar technique through playing exercises and songs/pieces
- Incorporate historical, social and technical knowledge of the guitar in a personal approach to learning the instrument
- Participate, evaluate and gain a practical understanding of the role of the contemporary guitarist as soloist and in an ensemble
- Develop personal playing skills through selection, rehearsal and performance of appropriate repertoire.
Assessment tasks
- Performance
- Quizzes
Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Develop an approach to planning and reflecting on personal instrumental development through preparation, implementation and documentation of an individual practice routine
- Develop personal playing skills through selection, rehearsal and performance of appropriate repertoire.
Assessment task
- Planning and reflection
Problem Solving and Research Capability
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- Develop an approach to planning and reflecting on personal instrumental development through preparation, implementation and documentation of an individual practice routine
Assessment task
- Planning and reflection
Creative and Innovative
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding and application of guitar technique through playing exercises and songs/pieces
- Participate, evaluate and gain a practical understanding of the role of the contemporary guitarist as soloist and in an ensemble
- Develop personal playing skills through selection, rehearsal and performance of appropriate repertoire.
Assessment tasks
- Performance
- Planning and reflection
Effective Communication
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Incorporate historical, social and technical knowledge of the guitar in a personal approach to learning the instrument
- Participate, evaluate and gain a practical understanding of the role of the contemporary guitarist as soloist and in an ensemble
- Develop personal playing skills through selection, rehearsal and performance of appropriate repertoire.
Assessment tasks
- Performance
- Planning and reflection